2016-17 MLB Free Agency: Looking at All 30 Teams' Offseason Shopping Lists
The 2016-17 MLB offseason is underway, as another thrilling postseason was capped off by the Chicago Cubs besting the Cleveland Indians in a seven-game World Series for the ages.
There will be time to reflect on the 2016 season in the months ahead, but there is no rest for MLB teams in their pursuit of a title, and the offseason work is already underway.
All 30 teams have different to-do lists heading into the winter, as each team looks to shore up its roster for a run of its own in 2017.
What follows is a quick rundown of each team's shopping list as things stand here in the early stages of the offseason, with a focus on what specific positions each team will be looking to upgrade.
Things will obviously change as the weeks and months pass, but for now, this serves as a primer for what to expect from each team.
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 30
Free Agents
RP Daniel Hudson, OF Rickie Weeks Jr.
Shopping List
Closer
The Arizona Diamondbacks moved free-agent-to-be Brad Ziegler at the trade deadline, leaving the team without a proven closer down the stretch.
Right-hander Jake Barrett (68 G, 3.49 ERA, 8.5 K/9) has the stuff to eventually settle into the ninth-inning role, but signing a second-tier veteran like Sergio Romo, Joaquin Benoit or Neftali Feliz seems like the smart move.
Other Relief Pitchers
Aside from trading away Ziegler, the Diamondbacks also dealt two-time All-Star Tyler Clippard and have another key arm in Daniel Hudson set to depart in free agency.
That leaves them without a reliever over the age of 27 on the 40-man roster, so filling out the relief corps with another experienced veteran or two beyond whoever they target to take over the closer's role is a must.
Atlanta Braves
2 of 30
Free Agents
C A.J. Pierzynski, RP Eric O'Flaherty, UT Emilio Bonifacio
Shopping List
Veteran Starting Pitching
"The biggest needs for us one, two and three? Starting pitching, starting pitching, starting pitching," Braves general manager John Coppolella told David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
He went on to say that the Braves will be looking to add at least two starters on one- or two-year deals as they look to eat up innings without blocking the path of any of the arms making their way through the minor league ranks.
Catcher
While they could enter the year with a catching tandem of Tyler Flowers and Anthony Recker, the Braves will at least kick the tires on the catching market.
A move to bring back Brian McCann makes for fun speculation, while the free-agent market features a number of viable starting options in Matt Wieters, Jason Castro, Nick Hundley and Kurt Suzuki and quality veteran backups like A.J. Ellis and Alex Avila.
Baltimore Orioles
3 of 30
Free Agents
RF Mark Trumbo, C Matt Wieters, DH Pedro Alvarez, OF Michael Bourn, UT Steve Pearce, OF Nolan Reimold, RP Tommy Hunter, RP Brian Duensing, RP Logan Ondrusek, OF Drew Stubbs
Shopping List
Starting Pitching
It's no secret the Baltimore Orioles need to improve their starting rotation, as they finished 24th in the majors with a 4.72 starters' ERA.
Kevin Gausman, Chris Tillman and Dylan Bundy are a solid trio at the top, but Ubaldo Jimenez, Wade Miley and Yovani Gallardo were all wildly inconsistent in 2016. With a barren free-agent market and a thin farm system with which to build a trade package, upgrading the staff will be easier said than done.
Corner Outfielder
Adam Jones will once again be penciled in as the starting center fielder, but the corner spots in the outfield are still up in the air.
Hyun Soo Kim, Joey Rickard and Dariel Alvarez are the best of the in-house options to flank Jones, so look for at least one corner outfielder to be added to the mix.
Catcher
Matt Wieters is once again headed for free agency after accepting a qualifying offer last winter, and this time around, his time in Baltimore has likely come to an end.
Caleb Joseph has proven to be a capable backup, but relying on him to be the primary backstop could be asking too much. Top prospect Chance Sisco looks like the future at the position, but he's still at least a year away, so a stopgap veteran is the way to go.
Speed
The O's stole a whopping 19 bases as a team. Enough said.
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Boston Red Sox
4 of 30
Free Agents
RP Brad Ziegler, RP Koji Uehara, RP Junichi Tazawa, 3B Aaron Hill, C Ryan Hanigan
Shopping List
Power Bat
There's no replacing David Ortiz and what he meant to the Red Sox organization and fanbase, but replacing his production in the middle of the lineup will be priority No. 1 for Boston.
Big Papi posted a 1.021 OPS with 48 doubles, 38 home runs and 127 RBI in the final season of his storied career. Edwin Encarnacion could be the team's No. 1 target, but there are plenty of run-production options available, including Mark Trumbo, Jose Bautista, Carlos Beltran, Kendrys Morales and Brandon Moss.
Setup Reliever
Craig Kimbrel will be back to anchor the Red Sox bullpen once again, and he'll be joined by Matt Barnes, Robbie Ross Jr. and Heath Hembree.
However, the team is set to lose a trio of veteran setup options in Brad Ziegler, Koji Uehara and Junichi Tazawa, so they'll almost certainly be in the market to add a capable eighth-inning arm or two.
Left-Handed Reliever
Ross is the only lock for a bullpen spot among lefties with Fernando Abad falling off dramatically after being acquired from the Minnesota Twins.
Travis Wood, Boone Logan, Brett Cecil, Marc Rzepczynski and Javier Lopez are some of the southpaws available this winter.
Chicago Cubs
5 of 30
Free Agents
OF Dexter Fowler, RP Aroldis Chapman, RP Travis Wood, SP Jason Hammel, C David Ross, OF Chris Coghlan, RP Joe Smith, RP Trevor Cahill, IF Munenori Kawasaki
Shopping List
Closer
Whether it's re-signing Aroldis Chapman, making a run at Kenley Jansen or Mark Melancon or targeting someone like Wade Davis on the trade market, the Cubs can't afford to enter the season relying on Hector Rondon to close out games.
Carl Edwards Jr. showed plenty of late-game potential in his first full season in the majors, and Rondon was terrific prior to missing time with a triceps injury, but it was obvious how important Chapman was and how little faith manager Joe Maddon had in the rest of his relief corps during the playoffs.
Left-Handed Reliever
Chapman is obviously the big name set to depart, but the team could also lose fellow lefty Travis Wood.
The former starter led the team with 77 appearances this past season, pitching to a 2.95 ERA with 12 holds. Rob Zastryzny pitched well after a late-season promotion and should have a chance to win a bullpen spot out of camp next year, but adding another lefty to the mix or re-signing Wood seems wise.
Swingman
The Cubs' somewhat surprising decision to decline Jason Hammel's $12 million option means Mike Montgomery will likely be moving from the bullpen into the starting rotation next season.
He's more than capable of holding down the No. 5 starter gig, but there's not much in the way of starting pitching depth on the roster. Bringing in a low-cost veteran to step into that swingman role previously occupied by Montgomery would help guard against injury.
Chicago White Sox
6 of 30
Free Agents
1B Justin Morneau, C Alex Avila, OF Austin Jackson, RP Matt Albers
Shopping List
Catcher
The catcher position produced a .216/.306/.332 line for the Chicago White Sox last season, with a veteran platoon of Alex Avila and Dioner Navarro manning the position to open the season and 24-year-old Omar Narvaez seeing the bulk of the action down the stretch.
Narvaez (117 PA, .267/.350/.337) showed some potential, but it seems unlikely the team will begin the year relying on him as the starter, and there are plenty of veteran options on the market.
Center Fielder
Austin Jackson and J.B. Shuck saw the bulk of the action in center field for the White Sox, with the position as a whole posting a .247/.303/.362 line with eight home runs and 52 RBI.
Both of those players will be gone next year, leaving unproven Charlie Tilson and the versatile Leury Garcia as the top in-house options to man the position.
Left-Handed Hitting DH
Adding a left-handed bat with some pop to serve as the primary designated hitter and slot between right-handed hitting Jose Abreu and Todd Frazier in the middle of the lineup would help add some needed lineup balance.
Kendrys Morales, Brandon Moss, Luis Valbuena, Adam Lind, Pedro Alvarez and Matt Joyce could all be options.
Starting Pitching Depth
Depending on what happens with Chris Sale and Jose Quintana on the trade market, starting pitching could become a significant need for the 2017 White Sox.
For now, those two are flanked by Carlos Rodon, James Shields and Miguel Gonzalez, with Anthony Ranaudo, Chris Beck and Carson Fulmer providing depth, so adding another starter is not a pressing need at this point.
Cincinnati Reds
7 of 30
Free Agents
SP Alfredo Simon, RP Ross Ohlendorf
Shopping List
Starting Pitcher
Dan Straily, Brandon Finnegan and a healthy Anthony DeSclafani give the Cincinnati Reds a rock-solid trio of starting pitchers to build around for next season, and Homer Bailey will also be looking to get his career back on track.
Even with Raisel Iglesias and Michael Lorenzen moving to the bullpen, the team still has plenty of starting options to round out the staff led by Cody Reed, Robert Stephenson and Tim Adleman. Bringing in a cheap veteran to eat some innings and allow those guys to further develop still seems like the right move.
Relief Pitchers
Even though the Reds finished 29th in the majors with a 5.09 relievers' ERA while converting just 28 of 53 save chances, there is reason for optimism with the relief corps.
Iglesias (37 G, 2.53 ERA) and Lorenzen (35 G, 2.88 ERA) were terrific, and both Tony Cingrani (65 G, 4.14 ERA) and Blake Wood (70 G, 3.99 ERA) showed enough to think they can be solid options as well.
They're still a handful of veterans away from the bullpen being a legitimate strength, but with a young starting rotation, that could make sense as an area for the rebuilding Reds to invest some money.
Cleveland Indians
8 of 30
Free Agents
1B Mike Napoli, OF Rajai Davis, OF Coco Crisp, OF Marlon Byrd
Shopping List
Right-Handed Power Bat
According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, the Cleveland Indians are interested in bringing back Mike Napoli after a wildly successful one-year, $7 million deal.
Should Napoli wind up signing elsewhere, finding a right-handed power bat will be a more pressing issue than finding a new first baseman, as Carlos Santana is capable of being the everyday first baseman if need be.
Left Field
What exactly can the Indians expect out of Michael Brantley in 2017?
At this point, the best approach is probably to plan for the worst, and that means finding someone capable of seeing everyday playing time in left field.
Abraham Almonte, Brandon Guyer and top prospect Bradley Zimmer are all options among the in-house talent, but an outside signing on a one-year deal would offer further insurance.
Colorado Rockies
9 of 30
Free Agents
RP Boone Logan, SP Jorge De La Rosa, 1B Mark Reynolds, C Nick Hundley, IF Daniel Descalso, OF Ryan Raburn
Shopping List
Relief Pitchers
The Rockies made the bullpen a priority last offseason, adding Jake McGee, Chad Qualls and Jason Motte in an effort to bring some stability to the relief corps.
That didn't happen, though, as the bullpen finished dead last in the majors with a 5.19 ERA and converted just 37 saves in 65 chances. Expect a similar approach this winter, with an eye on mid-level veteran free agents and potential trade targets.
Catcher
With veteran Nick Hundley set to walk, the Rockies will need to decide if they're comfortable turning catching duties over to Tony Wolters and Tom Murphy or if they'd prefer to bring in another experienced backstop.
Wolters hit .259/.327/.395 over 230 plate appearances while earning good marks defensively in his first taste of MLB action.
Meanwhile, Murphy crushed Triple-A pitching to the tune of a 1.008 OPS, 26 doubles and 19 home runs over 322 plate appearances, then homered five more times in 49 plate appearances following a September call-up.
Detroit Tigers
10 of 30
Free Agents
C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, IF Erick Aybar, 1B Casey McGehee
Shopping List
Center Field
The Detroit Tigers are in an interesting spot, as they could be one of the busier teams on the trade market, and what they do in terms of selling off veteran pieces will play a significant role in how their offseason shopping list takes shape.
At the moment, center field looks like the most glaring hole.
"We will weigh our options as far as center field is concerned for next season," GM Al Avila said (via Charlie Wilmoth of MLB Trade Rumors). "There will be a wide-open competition starting in the spring, and we’ll see how it plays out."
Tyler Collins, Steven Moya, Anthony Gose and JaCoby Jones are among the in-house options, but don't be surprised if an outside option or two is added to that mix.
Catcher
James McCann hit .221/.272/.358 with 12 home runs and 48 RBI in his second season as the starting backstop for the Tigers.
He also threw out 45 percent of would-be base stealers and posted a 1.6 dWAR, so his glove should keep him in the starting lineup, but look for the team to add a capable backup to replace the departing Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
Houston Astros
11 of 30
Free Agents
3B Luis Valbuena, C Jason Castro, OF Colby Rasmus, SP Doug Fister
Shopping List
Catcher
Evan Gattis split his time between catcher (55) and designated hitter (71) in 2016, with Jason Castro also seeing significant time behind the plate.
Unless the team feels comfortable doubling the number of games that Gattis catches this season, re-signing Castro or bringing in a similar veteran will be a necessity. Max Stassi is penciled in as the backup catcher, and it's unlikely the team would ask him to start more than once a week.
Outfielder
The Astros' recent waiver claim of Nori Aoki makes adding an outfielder a less pressing need, but it's still a possibility.
As it stands, Aoki would join Jake Marisnick and George Springer in the starting lineup, with Teoscar Hernandez, Tony Kemp, Preston Tucker and Marwin Gonzalez also in the mix. If the team doesn't feel comfortable giving a glove-first player like Marisnick regular at-bats, then the center field market could get a look.
Left-Handed Reliever
The Astros gave Tony Sipp a three-year, $18 million deal last winter after he posted a 1.99 ERA and 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings over 60 appearances in 2015.
He wasn't nearly as sharp this past season, as his ERA climbed to 4.95, and his strikeout rate (10.3 to 8.2 K/9) and walk rate (2.5 to 3.7 BB/9) both moved in the wrong direction.
Kevin Chapman and Reymin Guduan are the only other lefties on the 40-man roster.
Kansas City Royals
12 of 30
Free Agents
DH Kendrys Morales, SP Edinson Volquez, RP Luke Hochevar, SP Kris Medlen, RP Peter Moylan, C Drew Butera
Shopping List
Starting Pitcher
They may not have relied on a dominant starting rotation during their consecutive World Series appearances, but the Kansas City Royals simply didn't get enough from their starting staff this past season.
A 4.67 starters' ERA was good for 22nd in the majors, and with Edinson Volquez departing, there will be at least one rotation spot open. Don't expect a significant signing of any sort, but a flier on someone like Bud Norris or Tommy Milone could pay off.
Designated Hitter
The Royals are losing one of their most productive hitters in Kendrys Morales, as he posted a .795 OPS with 24 doubles, 30 home runs and 93 RBI last season.
Bounce-back seasons from Mike Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain could help replace that lost production, but either way, the Royals will be in the market to add a run-producing bat to replace Morales as the primary DH.
A reunion with Carlos Beltran is one possibility, while Pedro Alvarez, Adam Lind and Mitch Moreland would be lower-cost options.
Los Angeles Angels
13 of 30
Free Agents
SP Jered Weaver, SP C.J. Wilson, SP Jhoulys Chacin, RP Andrew Bailey, SP Tim Lincecum, C Geovany Soto
Shopping List
Starting Pitcher
Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson are set to walk in free agency, while both Nick Tropeano and Andrew Heaney will still be recovering from Tommy John surgery when Opening Day rolls around.
That leaves Garrett Richards, Matt Shoemaker, Ricky Nolasco and Tyler Skaggs as the likely candidates to fill four spots in the Los Angeles Angels rotation, with Alex Meyer the leading in-house candidate for the No. 5 spot.
Bringing in some competition and depth would help guard against using 15 different starters again like the team did in 2016.
Leadoff Hitter
Yunel Escobar hit .304/.355/.391 while serving as the Angels' primary leadoff hitter, but he'd be better suited hitting second given his high contact rate and lack of speed.
Dexter Fowler is the top leadoff option on the market, but now that Cameron Maybin has been acquired to play left field, there's no longer a clear opening in the outfield.
Los Angeles Dodgers
14 of 30
Free Agents
3B Justin Turner, RP Kenley Jansen, SP Rich Hill, RF Josh Reddick, RP Joe Blanton, 2B Chase Utley, SP Brett Anderson, RP Jesse Chavez, RP J.P. Howell
Shopping List
Third Baseman
The Los Angeles Dodgers will do everything in their power to re-sign Justin Turner, not only because he was such an integral part of the team's success this past season, but because the alternatives are uninspiring at best.
Luis Valbuena and Aaron Hill represent the best of the remaining free-agent options, while guys like Trevor Plouffe and Yunel Escobar could be had via trade. None of them come close to Turner, though.
Starting Pitcher
Rich Hill also looks like a prime candidate to be re-signed, as the Dodgers will be relying a bit more heavily on some of their young arms next year.
Clayton Kershaw, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy, Kenta Maeda and Julio Urias make up the current projected rotation, but relying on McCarthy and Kazmir is a risky proposition, and unless Urias takes a big step forward, that's a staff without a clear No. 2 guy.
Relief Pitching
Kenley Jansen and Joe Blanton were the Dodgers' two best relievers in 2016, and they're both hitting free agency.
Re-signing Jansen or making a play for one of the other top closers on the market will be a must, but shoring up the setup role will be equally important, so look for at least two significant bullpen signings to be made.
Right-Handed Power Bat
Finding a right-handed hitting slugger to slot between lefties Corey Seager and Adrian Gonzalez in the middle of the lineup would be ideal.
Ryan Braun, anyone?
Miami Marlins
15 of 30
Free Agents
SP Andrew Cashner, RP Mike Dunn, RP Dustin McGowan, RP Fernando Rodney, C Jeff Mathis, OF Jeff Francoeur, 1B Chris Johnson
Shopping List
Starting Pitching
Even before the tragic loss of Jose Fernandez, starting pitching was a glaring area of need for the Miami Marlins.
Adam Conley, Wei-Yin Chen and Tom Koehler look like the only three pitchers assured of a rotation spot as things currently stand, and those are three guys who are probably best served as a No. 3 starter on a good team.
David Phelps is also an option for the rotation, though his value as a multi-inning reliever out of the bullpen could keep him in a relief role.
Whether it's shelling out the money to sign Jeremy Hellickson or pulling the trigger on trading someone like Marcell Ozuna to get a controllable young arm, something has to be done about the rotation.
Left-Handed Reliever
The Marlins have a good one-two punch at the back of their bullpen in Kyle Barraclough and A.J. Ramos, but they'll be looking to add a lefty to the mix.
Hunter Cervenka is the only lefty reliever on the 40-man roster, with Mike Dunn reaching free agency. With no shortage of southpaw options on the market, they should be able to fill this need relatively easily.
Milwaukee Brewers
16 of 30
Free Agents
RP Blaine Boyer, RP Chris Capuano
Shopping List
Third Baseman
The Milwaukee Brewers have no intentions of making Jonathan Villar the everyday third baseman next year, according to Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckleball. That likely means we'll see Villar at second base and Scooter Gennett pushed out of a job, leaving the club looking for a third baseman.
Luis Valbuena is one potential target, and the team could also make a play for Trevor Plouffe if he's non-tendered by the Twins.
Starting Pitcher
The Brewers will have Jimmy Nelson, Junior Guerra, Zach Davies, Matt Garza, Chase Anderson and Wily Peralta all vying for a rotation spot next season, but it's not out of the question that they could add another veteran as well.
Top to bottom, that group has been wildly inconsistent in recent years, and Garza is a trade candidate if the team can find a taker and is willing to eat a good chunk of his salary.
It would be a bargain-bin move if the Brewers did add a starter, but that worked out pretty well when they claimed Guerra off waivers last winter.
Minnesota Twins
17 of 30
Free Agents
C Kurt Suzuki
Shopping List
Closer
The Twins lost All-Star closer Glen Perkins for the season in June when he underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum, a procedure that is expected to sideline him until at least March and potentially longer, according to Phil Miller of the Star Tribune.
Brandon Kintzler did an admirable job filling in, converting 17 of 20 save chances and posting a 3.15 ERA over 54 total appearances.
That being said, the team could still look to add another reliever capable of closing, and perhaps rolling the dice on someone like Drew Storen would make sense for a team that likely won't be in a position to contend.
Catcher
The Twins have options behind the plate, but none of them are particularly experienced.
John Ryan Murphy, Juan Centeno and prospect Mitch Garver are all in-house options to replace the departing Kurt Suzuki, but adding a similar veteran presence could be a priority.
New York Mets
18 of 30
Free Agents
LF Yoenis Cespedes, 2B Neil Walker, SP Bartolo Colon, RP Jerry Blevins, 1B James Loney, UT Kelly Johnson, SP Jon Niese, RP Fernando Salas, OF Alejandro De Aza
Shopping List
Power Bat
The New York Mets will do everything in their power to come to terms on a new, multiyear deal with Yoenis Cespedes, but they won't be the only team vying for his services.
With Neil Walker (23 home runs) also hitting the open market, replacing that middle-of-the-order thump in some capacity has to be the team's top priority.
A healthy Lucas Duda could certainly help in the power department, but the team can't simply let Cespedes and Walker depart without making every effort to replace their production.
Left-Handed Reliever
The emergence of Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo, along with the expected return of Zack Wheeler, makes re-signing Bartolo Colon more of a luxury than a need if the team does decide to make a push to bring him back.
However, fellow free agent Jerry Blevins could be viewed as a priority target to re-sign.
The 33-year-old posted a 2.79 ERA with 16 holds over 73 appearances, and Josh Smoker, Josh Edgin and Sean Gilmartin are the only other lefty bullpen options on the roster.
New York Yankees
19 of 30
Free Agents
1B Mark Teixeira, DH Billy Butler
Shopping List
Power Bat
The New York Yankees finished 19th in the majors and 11th in the American League with 183 home runs this past season, and no one on the team hit more than 22 long balls.
A full season of Gary Sanchez gives the team a legitimate 30-homer threat, and a healthy Greg Bird stepping in for the retiring Mark Teixeira at first base should provide some pop as well.
Adding some extra thump wouldn't hurt, though, and the Yankees could do it by adding a DH bat or finally pulling the trigger on trading Brett Gardner to open up an everyday spot in left field.
Starting Pitcher
Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia and Michael Pineda will fill the top three spots in the Yankees rotation, with Chad Green, Bryan Mitchell, Luis Severino and Luis Cessa the leading candidates to battle for the final two spots.
That's a largely unproven group, so expect a veteran or two to be brought into spring training to join that competition. A big signing is unlikely given the lack of available options, but a few guys on minor league deals given a legitimate shot at winning a roster spot makes sense.
Oakland Athletics
20 of 30
Free Agents
RP Ross Detwiler, OF Sam Fuld
Shopping List
Center Fielder
Unless the Oakland A's feel confident that a platoon of Brett Eibner and Jake Smolinski can hold down the fort, expect them to find their starting center fielder on the free-agent market.
Investing in Carlos Gomez could pay huge dividends after his late-season resurgence with the Texas Rangers, but the A's could wind up priced out of that market.
Rajai Davis, Michael Bourn, Jon Jay and Austin Jackson could be more realistic low-cost options, and they would all be potential options to fill the team's need for a leadoff hitter as well.
Starting Pitcher
Sonny Gray, Kendall Graveman and rookie standout Sean Manaea should have three spots in the Oakland rotation locked down, and fellow rookie Jharel Cotton showed enough in his brief late-season audition that he'll get a long look as well.
The A's have shown a willingness to roll the dice and sign players to incentive-laden, one-year deals in an effort to get more bang for their buck, so someone like Brett Anderson could make sense as a free-agent target and potential rotation upgrade.
Philadelphia Phillies
21 of 30
Free Agents
SP Jeremy Hellickson, SP Charlie Morton, RP David Hernandez, 1B Ryan Howard, C A.J. Ellis, IF Andres Blanco, OF Peter Bourjos
Shopping List
Outfielder
Odubel Herrera is locked into one starting outfield spot for the Philadelphia Phillies, but the other two are up for grabs, with Aaron Altherr, Roman Quinn, Cody Asche, Tyler Goeddel and prospect Nick Williams among the current options.
They may not be ready to contend in 2017, but this could be the offseason that the Phillies look to start spending some money in free agency, and there is no shortage of outfield options.
Adding a veteran presence to help shoulder some of the run-production responsibilities while mentoring the young core could be a good use of their available funds.
Veteran Starting Pitcher
As it stands, the Phillies could trot out a rotation of Aaron Nola, Vincent Velasquez, Jerad Eickhoff, Alec Asher and Jake Thompson.
The elder statesman of that group would be Eickhoff, who is 26.
The team got creative last winter when it traded for Jeremy Hellickson and Charlie Morton, and the Hellickson deal wound up paying off. A similar approach to rounding out the rotation makes sense at this stage of the rebuild.
Pittsburgh Pirates
22 of 30
Free Agents
SP Ivan Nova, RP Neftali Feliz, OF Matt Joyce, UT Sean Rodriguez, SP Ryan Vogelsong
Shopping List
Starting Pitcher
The Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation took a huge step backward last season, as it went from fifth in the majors in starters' ERA (3.53) to 22nd (4.67).
Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon will front the staff next season, with 2016 rookies Tyler Glasnow, Steven Brault and Chad Kuhl set to battle Drew Hutchison and Jeff Locke.
Re-signing Ivan Nova would be ideal, but he's reportedly looking for $70 million over five years, according to Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
That's probably more than the Pirates will be willing to spend, so instead look for them to seek out their next reclamation project.
Right-Handed Setup Reliever
Tony Watson moved into the closer's role when Mark Melancon was traded in July, and that deal brought the Pirates a good, young lefty setup man in Felipe Rivero.
However, the departure of Neftali Feliz—who made good on a one-year deal—leaves the club without a righty setup man. Jared Hughes, Juan Nicasio and A.J. Schugel should all earn spots in the bullpen from the right side, but adding a legitimate eighth-inning guy would solidify the relief corps.
San Diego Padres
23 of 30
Free Agents
OF Jon Jay, SP Clayton Richard, SP Edwin Jackson, RP Brandon Morrow, RP Carlos Villanueva, UT Adam Rosales
Shopping List
Starting Pitchers
A healthy Tyson Ross, Rule 5 success story Luis Perdomo and scrapheap find Christian Friedrich are slated to headline a San Diego Padres rotation that could also include the likes of Paul Clemens, Jarred Cosart and Cesar Vargas.
Veterans Clayton Richard and Edwin Jackson both proved to be useful additions during the season, and one or both could be re-signed to a cheap one-year deal. Otherwise, expect the team to target similar pitchers on the free-agent market to round out the rotation.
Closer
A healthy Carter Capps would be the front-runner to fill the closer's role next year, but after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March, he may not be ready for Opening Day.
Brandon Maurer converted 13 of 19 save chances after Fernando Rodney was traded to the Marlins, and he'd be next in line if Capps is slow in his recovery.
There's enough uncertainty here to think the Padres could make a move similar to last winter's Rodney signing.
Shortstop
Was the .287/.353/.417 line that Luis Sardinas posted over 120 plate appearances enough to convince the Padres that he should be their everyday shortstop in 2017?
We shall see.
San Francisco Giants
24 of 30
Free Agents
RP Sergio Romo, RP Santiago Casilla, RP Javier Lopez, OF Angel Pagan, OF Gregor Blanco, SP Jake Peavy, RP Joe Nathan, IF Gordon Beckham
Shopping List
Closer
The San Francisco Giants' failure to land a shutdown closer at the trade deadline came back to bite them in a big way, as they struggled nailing down leads down the stretch and then saw their bullpen implode against the Cubs in the National League Division Series.
Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon are all options in free agency, and Wade Davis is available via trade. Expect the Giants to get one of those four guys.
Other Relief Pitchers
The ninth-inning job isn't the only bullpen role that needs to be addressed this offseason, though.
Santiago Casilla, Sergio Romo and Javier Lopez are all free agents, so a complete bullpen overhaul figures to be coming this winter.
Derek Law, Hunter Strickland and Will Smith should have three spots locked up. The rest of the relief corps is TBD at this point.
Outfielder
With Angel Pagan and Gregor Blanco both reaching free agency, the Giants could look to bring in an outfielder, although it's not necessarily a must.
Mac Williamson and Jarrett Parker have both shown flashes and could get a look in an everyday role, and the team could also consider moving Eduardo Nunez to left field if it wants to give Conor Gillaspie regular at-bats at third base.
At the very least, signing a fourth outfielder seems like a reasonable expectation.
Seattle Mariners
25 of 30
Free Agents
1B Adam Lind, 1B Dae-Ho Lee, C Chris Iannetta, RP Drew Storen, OF Franklin Gutierrez
Shopping List
Corner Outfielder
Losing Nori Aoki off waivers to the Astros leaves the Seattle Mariners with Seth Smith filling one corner outfield spot and either Ben Gamel or Stefen Romero as the leading candidates for the other.
Top prospect Tyler O'Neill could debut at some point in the second half of 2017, but finding a right-handed hitting outfielder to complement Gamel and Smith would at least give the team some useful depth, especially considering fourth outfielder Franklin Gutierrez is also a free agent.
Center Fielder
Leonys Martin looked like one of the best pickups of the offseason when he posted an .822 OPS with nine home runs, 20 RBI and eight stolen bases in 167 plate appearances over the first two months of the season.
However, he slumped to a .630 OPS with six home runs and 27 RBI in 409 plate appearances from June 1 through the end of the season.
Will that be reason enough for the Mariners to seek an upgrade?
Left-Handed Reliever
David Rollins and recently claimed Dean Kiekhefer are the only lefty relievers on the 40-man roster, along with switch-pitcher Pat Venditte, so adding a southpaw or two seems like an obvious need.
Starting Pitcher
The starting rotation appears to be set with Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma, James Paxton, Taijuan Walker and Ariel Miranda making up the staff, but the team has virtually nothing in the way of organizational depth.
Zach Lee and Cody Martin are the only other starters on the 40-man roster, and they have a grand total of 61 innings at the MLB level combined.
St. Louis Cardinals
26 of 30
Free Agents
LF Matt Holliday, 1B/OF Brandon Moss, RP Jordan Walden, RP Jerome Williams
Shopping List
Center Fielder
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch identified Charlie Blackmon, A.J. Pollock and Adam Eaton as potential targets for the Cardinals in their search for an upgrade in center field.
Goold noted that the Cardinals' preference at this point appears to be the trade market, though Dexter Fowler is also a potential fit as the top center field option on the free-agent market.
As it stands, Kolten Wong or Randal Grichuk would be the team's starting center fielder, but with the club putting an emphasis on improving defensively, neither of them are ideal options.
Left-Handed Reliever
The Cardinals have a terrific lefty setup man in Kevin Siegrist, but he's been more effective against right-handed batters during his career.
The team picked up a more traditional lefty reliever in Zach Duke at the trade deadline. He was expected to be a big part of the bullpen in 2017, but he underwent Tommy John surgery in October and will miss the upcoming season.
That leaves swingman Tyler Lyons as the only other lefty in the bullpen, so expect the Cards to find someone in free agency to round out the relief corps.
Tampa Bay Rays
27 of 30
Free Agents
1B/OF Logan Morrison, RP Kevin Jepsen, SS Alexei Ramirez
Shopping List
Catcher
The catcher position remains a revolving door for the Tampa Bay Rays.
Curt Casali, Bobby Wilson, Hank Conger and Luke Maile combined to hit .202/.265/.349 with 18 home runs and 55 RBI last season, and right now it would be Casali and Wilson manning the position.
There are plenty of low-cost veterans available on the market this year, while J.T. Realmuto is an interesting trade target on a pitching-starved Marlins team.
Right-Handed Power Bat
The Rays finally found a second power source in the form of Brad Miller, but the offense could still use more punch in the middle.
Miller and Corey Dickerson are both left-haned hitters who don't hit same-handed pitching particularly well, so finding a right-handed bat with some pop who can platoon at first base or a corner outfield spot would make sense.
The Rays could also look to upgrade their DH situation now that Logan Morrison is on his way out the door. Nick Franklin, Richie Shaffer and Mikie Mahtook are the leading candidates to see expanded playing time there.
Texas Rangers
28 of 30
Free Agents
CF Ian Desmond, RF Carlos Beltran, OF Carlos Gomez, SP Colby Lewis, 1B Mitch Moreland
Shopping List
Center Fielder
With speedy Delino DeShields Jr. struggling mightily and Leonys Martin traded to Seattle in the offseason, Ian Desmond was thrust into the starting center field job for the Rangers last season, and he did an admirable job defensively while learning on the fly.
Re-signing Desmond or August pickup Carlos Gomez—who hit .284/.362/.543 with 24 RBI in 33 games with the Rangers—would be one option for shoring up center field.
Otherwise, Dexter Fowler, Jon Jay and Michael Bourn are the best alternatives in free agency.
No. 3 Starter
The Rangers have a pair of aces in Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish and two more solid rotation options in Martin Perez and A.J. Griffin, but adding a third quality arm to the mix could push them other the top in their pursuit of a title.
Re-upping with Colby Lewis once again is an option, but expect the Rangers to explore other opportunities before considering that move.
First Baseman
With Prince Fielder forced into retirement and Mitch Moreland reaching free agency, the Rangers have a hole to fill at first base.
This one could be addressed internally, though.
Jurickson Profar could get a chance to settle in at one position after bouncing all over the diamond. Otherwise, Joey Gallo and prospect Ronald Guzman could get a look.
Toronto Blue Jays
29 of 30
Free Agents
1B Edwin Encarnacion, RF Jose Bautista, LF Michael Saunders, RP Joaquin Benoit, RP Brett Cecil, SP R.A. Dickey, SP Scott Feldman, C Dioner Navarro, SP Gavin Floyd
Shopping List
Power Bat
The Toronto Blue Jays will likely make an effort to re-sign one of Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista, but they won't be able to bring both of them back, and there's a real possibility that both are playing elsewhere in 2017.
The team still has plenty of pop with Josh Donaldson, Troy Tulowitzki, Russell Martin and Justin Smoak as well as Chris Colabello returning from suspension.
Bringing in a power bat to serve as the primary DH seems like the most likely course of action. Prospect Rowdy Tellez could also get a look at some point in 2017, and he's capable of being a significant power source down the line.
Outfielder
Losing Bautista and Michael Saunders also puts the team in the market for an outfielder.
Melvin Upton Jr., Ezequiel Carrera and Dalton Pompey are the leading candidates to flank Kevin Pillar at the corner outfield spots. While all three are capable of being productive, none are what you would call an impact bat.
Adding an offensive-minded outfielder to go along with whoever the Blue Jays get to man the DH spot could help shore up the offensive attack.
Washington Nationals
30 of 30
Free Agents
RP Mark Melancon, C Wilson Ramos, 2B Stephen Drew, RP Marc Rzepczynski, OF Chris Heisey, SP Mat Latos, RP Yusmeiro Petit, RP Matt Belisle, RP Sean Burnett
Shopping List
Closer
The Washington Nationals picked up closer Mark Melancon at the trade deadline to replace the struggling Jonathan Papelbon, but he was just a rental.
Re-signing him is certainly an option, as is a run at the other top closers on the market.
Shawn Kelley and Blake Treinen would be the top in-house options to step into the ninth-inning role, but for a team looking to contend for a title, going with an unproven closer seems unlikely.
Catcher
Even if he wasn't a free agent, the Nationals would be looking for someone to step in for Wilson Ramos after he suffered a torn ACL in September.
Jose Lobaton took over as the starting catcher in the postseason, with prospect Pedro Severino earning a spot on the playoff roster as the backup.
Severino has the tools to one day assume the starting job, but the 23-year-old could use more time to develop, and Lobaton is still best served as a backup.
There's an abundance of veteran catching options on the market this winter, and a one-year stopgap seems like the most likely target.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.
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